Vandalproof outdoor barbecue



Feb. 3, 1970 J. D. LINERT 3,492,985

VANDALPROOF OUTDOOR BARBECUE -Filed July 2. 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. J4 D. L/NEAT Feb. 3, 1970 I 0. LINERT 3,492,985

VANDALPROOF OUTDOOR BARBECUE Filed July 2, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JAN Q L/N6R7' A TTORNE Y8 United States PatentOffice 3,492,985 Patented Feb. 3, 1970 US. Cl. 126-25 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A theftproof vandalproof outdoor charcoal barbecue having a rectangular stainless steel grille with a length several times its width welded to a permanently mounted central vertical pipe, a short pipe rotatably mounted on the vertical pipe and welded to an open-ended rectangular firepan which swings from a longitudinal position in alignment with the grille to a transverse position and a rotatable adjusting collar mounted on theyertical pipe to engage the short pipe and suppoft the pan in adjusted positions a short distance below the grille. The height of the firepan may also be adjusted by turning the pan.

The present invention relates to permanent outdoor charcoal barbecues used in private and state parks and other recreation areas and more particularly to a charcoal barbecue of welded construction which is durable, safe, efiicient and convenient to use and yet theftproof and economical to manufacture.

Heretofore the permanent outdoor barbecues used in state parks have been of heavy cast iron or welded construction and have had large openings to permit burning of wood or charcoal and removal of ashes. It was found that the cast iron barbecues were apt'to be broken or cracked in service unless they were made very heavy, and they were therefore costly.

Attempts have been made to improve outdoor barbecues used in private and state parks. Some have had movable or adjustable parts for more convenient or more efficient operation and others have had hidden keys or locking devices to permit disassembly by authorized par-k personnel, but these types were not satisfactory and not vandalproof. Barbecues with removable parts such as pins, keys or bolts were considered undesirable because such parts were too often broken, lost or stolen.

Prior to this invention, various types of portable barbecues have been in use which are specifically designed for use with charcoal. These often provide for movement of the grille relative to the charcoal or removal of the grille to facilitate loading of the charcoal, starting of the fire and/or removal of the ashes. These portable barbecues are not vandalproof, even if constructed with greater strength, and are clearly unsatisfactory for permanent use in a private or state park. Although there has for many years been a need in parks for vandalproof barbecue grilles designed specifically for eflicient cooking with charcoal, there has been no satisfactory solution to the problem.

The present invention solves the problem by providing a simple inexpensive barbecue which is vandalproof and yet functions effectively as a charcoal grille. Although the elongated grille used in the barbecue of this invention is spaced a very short distance from the charcoal in the firepan, there is no problem building the fire, loading or cleaning out the firepan, or controlling grease fires during cooking because of the rotatable firepan. As the grille is permanently mounted so that it cannot be broken or stolen, it is feasible to employ a stainless steel grille. The chances of damage or loss due to vandalism is negligible because of the absence of weak or removable parts. The rotatable firepan is of extremely strong construction and cannot be removed without removing the immovable grille or lifting the vertical pipe and its concrete base out of the ground.

The principal elements of the charcoal barbecue of this invention are a vertical supporting pipe, a long rectangular grill welded to the upper end of the pipe, a short pipe or sleeve mounted for rotation on said vertical pipe, a long shallow firepan welded to said short pipe to rotate therewith, and a supporting collar to limit downward movement of the firepan. The firepan has narrow sidewalls and is open at the end to facilitate ash removal.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple outdoor barbecue which is strong, durable and vandalproof but inexpensive and convenient for use with charcoal.

A further object ,of the invention is to provide an efficient inexpensive charcoal barbecue for park use which is extremely strong and not subject to theft or substantial damage by vandals.

Another object of the invention is to provide a charcoal barbecue which is more convenient to use.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a charcoal grille which can be adjusted immediately in case of a grease fire without moving the grille or the food supported thereby.

Another object of the invention is to provide an outdoor charcoal grille for park use having a stainless steel grille which cannot be stolen.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple vandalproof adjusting means for an outdoor charcoal barbecue.

Another object is to provide a charcoal barbecue having a welded construction which improves strength and minirnizes cost of manufacture.

These and other objects, used and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following specification and claims and from the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view on a reduced scale of a vandalproof outdoor charcoal barbecue constructed according to the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of the vandalproof barbecue on a larger scale;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a top view of the vandalproof barbecue showing the moved position of the firepan; and

FIGURE 5 is a developed view showing the theftproof means for adjusting the height of the firepan.

Referring more particularly to the drawings which are drawn substantially to scale and in which like parts are identified by the same numerals throughout the several views, there is shown a vandalproof barbecue designed for outdoor use in private or state parks having a vertical pipe 1 of circular cross section with its lower end portion 2 permanently embedded below the ground level g in a concrete pad or base 3. The fiat upper end of the pipe 1 is welded to a reticulate rectangular grille 5 to provide a permanent support for the grille. As herein shown the grille has, midway between its ends, a flat rectangular horizontal plate 4 with its central porton welded to the top of the vertical pipe 1 throughout the circumference of the pipe to support the grille in a horizontal position.

The grille 5 is of welded construction and is formed by a series of regularly spaced parallel longitudinal and lateral bars of iron or steel. Because the barbecue is substantially theftproof and vandalproof it is practical to make such grille of stainless steel. As herein shown the grille 5 is formed by a series of regularly spaced parallel longitudinal steel bars 6 which are welded to a series of regularly spaced parallel transverse steel bars 7 and to the transverse end bars 9. The longitudinal bars 8 forming the sides of the grille are welded to the ends of all of the lateral bars 7 and 9, and the flat bottom surfaces of all of the longitudinal bars are preferably welded to the transverse horizontal plate 4 which reinforces the grille. Because of such reinforcement it is possible to omit many of the lateral bars 7, to lengthen the spacing between such bars, or to reduce the thickness of such bars or the longitudinal bars 6. All of the bars 6 through 9 have the same width and have a uniform thickness and are located so that their flat upper and lower edges are located in two horizontal planes. While the plate 4 is shown as being imperforate, it will be understood that holes or slots may be provided therein to expose more of the grille to heat from the hot coals near the opposite ends of the plate 4.

The grille is rectangular and has a length several times its width and the same ratio of dimensions applies to the underlying firepan 10.

The firepan 10 is part of a movable welded assembly permanently mounted on the pipe 1 below the grille 5. Such assembly comprises a steel firepan or trough 10, a short axially elongated vertical pipe or sleeve 11, and the two triangular gusset plates 12. The firepan 10 has a fiat imperforate horizontal rectangular bottom wall 13 with a length equal to that of the grille 5 and a width preferably slightly less than the width of the grille and has narnow flat rectangular side wall portions 14 bent upwardly from the bottom wall and integral therewith. A bend 15 is formed at the bottom of the firepan at the opposite sides of the bottom wall, each side wall portion 14 being inclined at an angle of 60 to 80 degrees to the horizontal. A pair of fiat rectangular steel bars 16 are welded to opposite ends of the firepan parallel to the horizontal bottom wall 13 and spaced therefrom to provide openings 17 below said bars at opposite ends of each bar 16 are welded to the side portions 14 so that the bars reinforce said portions and maintain the shape of the trough. The openings 17 have a height of at least one inch and preferably no more than 2 inches to facilitate removal of ashes. If desired the bottom wall 13 can be provided with a slight slope downwardly from the sleeve 11 to each end of the pan to facilitate such ash removal and water washing of the pan by rain water or otherwlse.

The sleeve 11 fits in a circular hole 32 in the wall 13 having a diameter substantially equal to the external diameter of said sleeve and is welded to the firepan 5 substantially throughout the circumference of the hole to hold the wall 13 in a horizontal position perpendicular to the axis of the sleeve. The top surface 18 of the sleeve is preferably located near the plate 4 but spaced therefrom so as to be out of contact with the line of welding of that plate to the pipe 1. The sleeve 11 has a length of several inches and has a bottom surface 19 which is preferably spaced 2 inches or more from the pan 5 to provide room for 2 or more triangular gusset plates 12 which extend radially outwardly from the sleeve 11. Each gusset plate 12 has a vertical edge welded throughout its length to the sleeve 11 and a horizontal upper edge welded throughout its length to the wall 13. As herein shown two of said gusset plates are provided, one on each side of the sleeve.

A stainless steel supporting collar 20 is mounted on the pipe 1 to limit downward movement of the firepan. Such collar may be held on the pipe 1 by welding or by one or more pins 21 rigidly connected to the pipe, but it is preferable to construct such collar so that it can be rotated on the pipe 1 to effect vertical adjustment of the firepan.

As herein shown the collar 20 has substantially the same circular cross section as the sleeve 11 and has a flat upper surface 31 which engages the flat bottom surface 19 of the sleeve 11 throughout its circumference. A short stainless steel pin 21 fits in aligned circular holes in the pipe 1 and is permanently welded to the pipe. As shown herein such pin has a circular cross section and projects radially from the pipe a distance less than 1 inch and greater than the radial thickness of the collar 20 or the sleeve 11. A permanent handle 22 with a length of several inches, preferably 4 to 5 inches, fits in a circular hole in a wide portion of the collar 20 and is welded to the collar to facilitate rotation thereof to adjust the height of the firepan 5.

Screw means may be provided to cause vertical movement of the collar 20 in response to turning of the collar to effect such vertical adjustment of the firepan. The preferred means for effecting such adjustment comprises the stationary cam pin 21 and an inclined generally helical cam surface 23 at the bottom of the collar 20 which engages the upper surface of the cam pin 21. The surface 23 is preferably smooth and preferably increases in height no more than one inch or so for every 5 inches of circumference of the sleeve 11 so that it is easy to rotate the collar.

It is preferable to provide a plurality of notches, plateaus or shoulders to maintain the collar in each of its adjusted positions. As herein shown the cam surface 23 has three notches 24, 25 and 26 spaced around the periphery of the collar 20 and shaped to receive the cam pin 21. These notches have rounded shoulders 27, 28 and 29, respectively, which engage the cam pin to resist accidental turning of the collar and to hold the collar in its adjusted position. The shoulder 29 may be high enough to prevent accidental turning of the collar beyond the drop at the surface 30. As herein shown, such vertical drop at the surface 30 is more than one inch and the collar 20 has three adjusted positions. The uppermost position of the firepan shown in FIGURE 1 (pin 21 in notch 26) is one inch above the lowermost position (pin 21 in notch 24), and the intermediate position (pin 21 in notch 25) is /2 inch above the lowermost position.

' ing the upper surface 31 of the collar relative to the sleeve surface 19 so that the firepan moves vertically when it is turned degrees, but it is usually preferable to locate the surface 31 in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the collar 20 and parallel to the flat bottom surface 19 of the sleeve 11.

The vandalproof charcoal barbecue shown in the drawings is especially designed for use in private or state parks. 'The pipe 1 has a length of at least 4 feet and supports the upper cooking surface of the grille 5 about 30 inches above the ground level g. Such pipe may be a conventional 1 inch iron pipe and the sleeve 11 may be cut from a conventional 2 inch iron pipe whose inside diameter is only slightly greater than the outside diameter of the 1 /2 inch pipe. The grille 5 preferably has a width of about 7 to 9 inches and a length about 3.5 to about 4 times such width. For example, the dimensions of the grille may be 8.5 x 32, or 7.5 X 26. The steel bars and plates of the grille are thick enough to prevent damage by vandals. The thickness of such members is usually less than inch and may be only inch. As herein shown, all of the bars and plates 4, 6, 8, 12, 13, 14 and 16 have a thickness of inch, the transverse bars 7 of the grille have a thickness of inch, and all of the bars of the grille 5 have a vertical width of 1 inch. The bars 6 and 8 of the grille preferably have a thickness of A3 inch to 7 inch and a width of to 1 inch and are preferably spaced apart /2 inch to 1 inch in a lateral direction.

In an outdoor charcoal barbecue of the type shown in the drawings the firepan 10 should have a width of 6 to 10 inches, a length of 2 to 3 feet, a thickness of /s to inch, and a depth of 1 to 2 inches and should be supported in one position with its bottom wall spaced about 2 to 3 inches from the top surface of the grille. The overall dimensions of the firepan may be about the same as those of the grille so that the marginal portions of the pan are directly below the margin of the grille as shown in the drawings. While the firepan may be offset vertically to provide the bottom wall 13 with a height at one end different from the height at the opposite end, it is preferable to provide a flat bottom wall 13 with the same height at both ends so that the firepan can be turned 180 degrees without changing the height of the pan.

The barbecue of this invention can readily be constructed to effect vertical adjustment of the firepan in response to turning or rotation of said pan. This may be accomplished by connecting the firepan to a collar or sleeve having means such as a helical or inclined cam surface or thread surface extending around the post 1 to effect vertical movement of the firepan in response to turning of the firepan. As herein shown, the inclined cam surface 23 on the collar 20 effects such vertical adjustment and means are provided for connecting the collar to the firepan so that it rotates with the pan during vertical adjustment of the pan.

The connection between the rotatable collar 20 and the firepan 10 may be permanent if there are only 2 adjusted positions of the pan 180 degrees apart, but it is preferable to provide 3 or more adjusted positions and to provide for movement of the firepan independently of the collar so that the firepan may be retained to its normal position under the grille 5 after each adjustment. As herein shown, a vertical cylindrical rod 33 with a diameter of inch is welded to the sleeve 11 and projects an inch or so below the surface 19 so that it engages the handle 22 when the firepan is turned. The rod 33 temporarily connects the firepan to the collar 20 so that they may be rotated in unison during vertical adjustment of the firepan. Because the firepan is relatively long, this makes it relatively easy to overcome the friction resisting movement of the inclined cam surface 23 relative to the pin 21 even if such surface is rough or rusty or inclined at a steep angle.

When using the charcoal grille of this invention, the firepan is swung 90 degrees from its normal position to a loading and unloading position perpendicular to the grille as shown in FIGURE 4. The charcoal brickettes are then placed in the pan and ignited to start the fire. While the fire is burning the coffee pot and/or the food may be placed on the opposite end portions of the grille away from the flames.

When the coals are hot enough for cooking, the firepan is swung back to the operating position directly below the grille. The collar 20 may be turned by moving the handle 22 or by turning the firepan to move the firepan closer to the grille if it is desired to sear a steak On the grille. Also, if fat drippings from the meat start a grease fire or cause unwanted flames, the firepan may be immediately swung away from the grille without danger of throwing the meat or the coffee pot off of the grille.

When the cooking is completed the firepan can easily be cleaned by scraping the ashes out the open end of the pan below the bars 16.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A vandalproof outdoor charcoal barbecue comprising a vertical metal pipe, a reticulate rectangular metal grille with a length several times its width welded to the upper end of said pipe in a horizontal position, a short pipe rotatably mounted on said vertical pipe below said grille, a rectangular metal firepan with a length several times its width welded to said short pipe in a horizontal position and having a normal operating position directly below and parallel to said grille, said firepan being turnable about the axis of said pipe from said normal position to a position perpendicular to said normal position, and a supporting member mounted on said vertical pipe to limit downward movement of said short pipe.

2. A vandalproof barbecue as defined in claim 1 wherein said firepan has a flat bottom wall with a central circular hole of a size to receive said short pipe, a pair of inclined side walls, and rectangular openings at its opposite ends between said side walls to permit sliding of ashes or burned coals out of said pan.

3. A barbecue as defined in claim 2 wherein a flat bar extends between said side walls above each of said openings and is welded to said side walls, said short pipe extending through said circular hole and being welded to said pan at the margin of said hole.

4. A barbecue as defined in claim 3 wherein a pair of fiat triangular gusset plates are Welded to the opposite sides of said short pipe and to the bottom wall 0 said pan generally in a vertical plane.

5. A barbecue as defined in claim 2 wherein said grille has a narrow transverse plate welded thereto in a horizontal position midway between the ends of the grille and the upper end of said vertical pipe is welded to the central portion of said plate.

6. A vandalproof barbecue as defined in claim 5 wherein said grille has a width of about 7 to 9 inches and a length which is about 3.5 to 4 times said width and is formed by regularly spaced longitudinal iron bars with a thickness of at least inch and a width of /1 to 1 inch held in parallel relation by welded cross bars having a thickness of at least inch and wherein said vertical pipe has an outside diameter of about 1.5 to 2.5 inches and a length of at least 4 feet.

7. A vandalproof barbecue as defined in claim 6 wherein said firepan has a width of 6 to 10 inches, a length of 2 to 3 feet, and a depth of 1 inch to 2 inches and is supported in one position with its bottom wall spaced about 2 to 3 inches from the top surface of said grille, the bottom and side walls of said pan having a thickness of at least /8 inch.

8. A vandalproof barbecue as defined in claim 6 wherein said grille is formed of stainless steel.

9. A vandalproof charcoal barbecue as defined in claim 1 wherein means are provided for raising and lowering said firepan in response to turning of said firepan.

10. A vandalproof barbecue as defined in claim 1 wherein a collar is provided having means including inclined surface extending around said vertical post for raising and lowering said firepan in response to rotation of said collar, and means are provided for connecting said collar to said firepan to cause it to rotate in unison with firepan during vertical adjustment of the pan.

11. A vandalproof barbecue as defined in claim 1 wherein said supporting member comprises a collar mounted for rotation on said vertical pipe and having an inclined bot tom cam surface extending around its periphery to provide means for adjusting the height of said firepan in response to turning of said collar, and wherein a cam member is rigidly mounted on said vertical pipe below said collar to engage said cam surface.

12. A barbecue as defined in claim 11 wherein said cam member comprises a pin welded to said vertical pipe, said cam surface has a series of notches or depressions to receive said pin and to maintain the collar in a series of predetermined adjusted positions, and said collar has a handle comprising a bar rigidly mounted on the collar and extending radially outwardly therefrom.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,394,228 10/1921 Sheridan. 2,980,100 4/ 1961 Bamberger 126-25 FOREIGN PATENTS 127,210 8/ 1928 Switzerland.

CHARLES 3'. MY HRE, Primary Examiner 

